Container closure with axial plug



y 9, 1967 R. A. AYOTTE ETAL 3,318,495

CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH AXIAL PLUG Filed Jan. 26, 1965 64 Wil Rober/ A.flyofle BY Robe/1 J. Muse/ 61mm JM ATTORNEY United States Patent FiledJan. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 428,070 1 Claim. or. 222-546) This inventionrelates to devices for dispensing liquids, powders, or the like, andmoreparticularly to dispensing containers of the type having dispensingplugs positioned in the neck or outlet end of the container.

Many known types of dispensing containers include a dispensing plugmember inserted at the neck or outlet opening of the container, thedispensing plug having an outlet passage or passages therein whichpermit dispensing of the contents of the container. Such containersusually also include a removable cap member which is secured to the neckof the container by a screw-threaded connection or otherwise and servesto close the outlet opening or openings of the insert plug when thecontainer is not being used for dispensing, such outer closure membersbeing removed when it is desired to dispense the contents of thecontainer.

After containers of the type just described have been filled with thedesired liquid or powder contents, the insert plug is then positioned inthe neck of the container and the outer closure cap is secured to theneck of the container in sealing relation to the dispensing plug. Thus,the procedures used for closing the prior art containers as justdescribed require several distinct manipulative steps at the site wherethe container is filled. In addition to the fact that the prior artprocedure just outlined requires two separate manipulative steps at thesite of the filling and capping operation, the prior art procedure alsoprovides complications and tie-ups in the filling and capping procedure,such as plug jamming due to equipment, bottle, and line speed variances,necessitating extra labor and extra plug inventory.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combinedcontainer, a dispensing insert plug, and closure member for thecontainer which cooperate with each other to eliminate the need for aseparate plug insertion step in the container filling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined container,dispensing insert plug and closure cap which permits shipment of theclosure cap and insert plug in pro-assembled relation with respect toeach other to the site where the containers are to be filled whereby toincrease the speed and efiiciency of the container capping operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing insert plugand a closure member for a container which are so related to each otheras to permit the insert plug and the closure member to be positioned onthe container in a single manipulative step.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide in combination acontainer, a dispensing insert plug in the neck of the container and aclosure cap for the container which are so structurally related to eachother as to provide an improved sealing arrangement for the container.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a combinedcontainer, insert plug, and closure member which reduce labor at thecontainer filling line, provide an improved inventory control of insertplugs and closure caps, and reduce extraneous costs due to loss ofinsert plugs.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a dispensingcontainer having a dispensing insert plug so constructed as to providean improved dispensing action, whereby liquid contents of the containermay be dispensed in either drops or in a stream.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance withthis invention a combined container, dispensing insert plug for the neckor outlet of the container, and a closure cap for the container, inwhich the closure cap includes a stern member projecting downwardly fromthe under surface of the top wall thereof which is adapted to receivethe dispensing insert plug whereby to permit a preassembly of thedispensing insert plug and the closure cap by the containermanufacturer. The preassembled closure cap and dispensing insert plugare assembled in a single operation on to the container after thecontainer has been filled, with the stem member of the container capproviding a primary seal for the outlet passage of the insert plug. Thedispensing insert plug is secured in interlocking engagement with theinterior of the container neck by cooperating bead and undercut meansprovided on the container and plug members, so that when the closure capis removed from the container, the dispensing insert plug remains inassembled relation with the container.

A further feature of the invention is the construction of the dispensinginsert plug including a small inlet passage in the base of the insertplug which communicates with a larger dispensing outlet passage having atapered outlet month which facilitates the dispensing of liquid contentsof the container either in individual drops or in a stream.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a container, the dispensing insert plug,and the closure cap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded vertical sectional view of the container, thedispensing insert plug, and the closure cap;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the dispensing insert plug;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section of the closure cap and dispensinginsert plug in preassembled relation to each other; and

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section showing the dispensing insert plugpositioned in engagement with the neck of the container, with the outerclosure cap being shown in phantom line.

Referring now to the drawing, the container assembly is generallyindicated at 10, and includes a container generally indicated at 12, aninsert plug generally in dicated at 18, and a closure cap generallyindicated at 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, container 12 is shaped to simulate theappearance of a lemon and is used for dispensing lemon juice or the likealthough obviously the container may be used for dispensing varioustypes of liquids or powders. Container 12 is preferably formed of asuitable flexible plastic material such as polyethylene or othersuitable material. As best seen in the views of FIGS. 2 and 5, theinterior of neck 14 of the container is provided adjacent but spaceddownwardly from the upper end thereof with a radially inwardly extendingannular bead generally indicated at 22 which is tapered downwardly andradially outwardly at the lower portion thereof as indicated at 24. Theinternal diameter of portion 26 of neck 14 above head 22 is greater thanthe internal diameter of portion 28 of neck 14 which lies below bead 22,the larger internal diameter of neck portion 26 cooperating with theupper surface of bead 22 to define an annular shoulder 30.

The insert plug generally indicated at 18 is formed of a flexibleplastic material such as polyethylene, for example, or other suitableplastic or rubber-like material, and includes an outer wall 32 which istapered upwardly and radially outwardly from fiat base portion 34 of theinsert plug. Plug 18 also includes at its upper end a flange-like wallportion 36, the under surface of which is separated from the upperportion of tapered outer wall 32 of the insert plug by an annularundercut region indicated at 38. Base 34 of the insert plug is providedwith a relatively narrow inlet opening 40 therein which communicateswith the hollow interior 44 of a tubular outlet member. generallyindicated at 42 which is vertically upstanding from base portion 34along the vertical axis of the insert plug. Tubular outlet member 42 istapered at its upper end as indicated at '46 to facilitate thedispensing of the contents of the container in either a stream or inseparate drops. The insert plug includes an annular hollow space boundedby the radially outer wall surface 48 of the upstanding outlet passagemember 44 and by the radially inner wall surface 50 of wall 32 of theinsert plug.

The cap generally indicated at is generally similar to a conventionalscrew-on cap, except as will be hereinafter described, and is formed ofa suitable plastic material such as polypropylene, for example, or othersuitable material. Cap 20 includes internal threads 60 which are adaptedto mate with the external thread 16 on the neck of the container, and isadditionally provided with a stem member 62 which is preferably moldedintegrally with the cap, stem member 62 extending downwardly from theunderneath surface of the top wall of the cap along the central verticalaxis of the cap and of the bottle. Stem 62 is adapted'to be received insealing contact with the hollow interior 44 of the" upstanding tubularoutlet member 42 of dispensing insert plug 18.

The outer surface of cap 20 is provided with vertical serrations 6 4which providea frictional gripping surface which aidsin grasping the capfor rotationrthereof.

" ways. Thus, the stem 62'on the cap and the tubular As best seen in theview of FIG. 4, the insert plug 18 V and the closure cap 20 arepreassembled with respect to each'other by pushing the downwardlydepending stem 62 of the closure cap into thehollow interior space 44 oftubular outlet member 42. The outer diameter of stem 62 is made slightlylarger than the normal unflexed inner diameter of outlet passage 44 sothat when stem 62 is inserted into the interior of outlet member 42 itf-orms'a sealing contact therewith Which-prevents any leakage ofthecontents of. the container past stem 62. Furthermore, when cap 20 isassembled onto insert plug 18 as seen in FIG. 4, a sealing contact isprovided between the under surface of the top wall of the sealing capandthe top surface of'tubular outlet member 42. The sealing contact betweenthe outer surface'of stem 62' and the" inner wall surface of outletmember 42 provides a primary seal for the dispensing container, whilethe engagement of the under surface'of closure cap 20 with a the.upperrsurface of outlet member 42 provides a sec ondary seal for thedispensing container.

The assem bled closure cap and insert plug as shown in FIG. 4 may beshipped to the site of the filling operation in preassembled relation,as shown in FIG. 4. After container '12 has been filled the preassembledcap 20 and insert plug 18 may then be assembled onto the threaded neckof the container by screwing the'cap 20 onto the container neck. Duringthe operation of screwing the cap down onto the container neck, theinsert plug 18, carried by stem 62 of thecap, moves downwardly into theinterior of the neck of the container, until the site of the containerfilling operation in this preassembled relation. This eliminates theneed for a plug insertion station at the site of the container fillingoperation to thereby greatly improve the efliciency of the filling andcapping operation by reducing the labor required at the filling line,providing better inventory'control of plugs and caps, and reducingextraneous costs in connection with the capping operation. The principleof the container assembly as hereinbefore described is'applicable to anypackage that requires a dispensing plug.

Furthermore, the constructions of the insert plug and i the closure capmember cooperate in severalimportant 40 at the lower end of the plug,and the larger diameter passage 44 of tubular outlet member 42, togetherwith the tapered mouth'46, all cooperate to permit dripless dispensingof the contents of the container in either drops or in a stream.'

Also, a further important as previously described, is the automaticinterlocking which'occurs between insert plug 18 and the neck 14 0f thecontainer when the preassembled cap 20 and insert plug 18 are screwedonto the neck of the container, due f 'to the automatic interlockingbetween annular bead 22 onthe neck of the container andrthe undercutregion '38 of the insert plug. Due to this interlocking action, insert.

plug 18 remains interlockingly engaged with the neck of 7 the containerwhen the closure cap isremoved.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications Y may be made therein Without departing fromthe invention and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.7 e

' What we claim'asour invention is:

A container assembly comprising a container having a hollow neck memberwith a screw threadon the exterior thereof, a one-piece insert plugmember receivable in said neck member, said insert plugmember being madeof flexible material, said insert plug member in-' eluding a baseportion therein having an inlet communicating with the interior of saidcontainer when said insert plug member is positioned within said hollowneck a member, an integral tubularoutlet member carried bycircularfiange portion 36 of the insert plug seats on a the uppersurface of shoulder 30 of the container neck, with the annular head 22on the interior of the container neck snapping into engagement with' theannular undercut region 38 of the insert plug to thereby securely holdinsert plug 18 locked in engagement with the interior of the containerneck. When closure cap 20 is unscrewed to permit dispensing of thecontents of the ment' with the container neck due to the interlockingaction between annular bead 22 of the container neck and the annularunder-cut region 33 of the insert plug container, insert plug 18'remainsin interlocked engagesaid insert plug'member and extending upwardly fromsaid inlet, said tubular outlet member terminating at its 7 upper end ina dispensing outlet, said inlet of said base" portion being ofsubstantially smaller cross-sectional area A than the internalcross-sectional are of saidtubular out.- I

let member, said insert plug member includingan outer wall which engagesthe neck of said container, said outer wall being separatedbyanannular'space from said tubular outlet member, a bead projectingradially inwardly from the inner surface of said neckmember adjacent butspaced from the outer and normally upper V end of said neck membensaidinsert plug member in cluding an undercut region in said outer wallthereof feature of the construction,

whereby when said insert plug member is inserted in said neck membersaid bead and said undercut region will engage with each other tointerlockingly engage said members with each other, said neck memberbeing of greater internal diameter above than below said bead to definea shoulder above said bead, said outer wall of said insert plug memberterminating at the normally upper end thereof in a flange-like portionwhich extends radially outwardly from the normally upper end of saidouter wall and which lies above said undercut region, said flange-likeportion being adapted to seat on said shoulder when said plug member isengaged with said neck member, the normally upper surface of saidflangelike portion being flush with the normally upper end of said neckmember, a closure cap engaging said neck member, said closure capincluding a top wall and a side wall depending downwardly from said topwall, said side wall being internally threaded to mate with said screwthread on the exterior of said hollow neck portion, said closure capincluding a stem member depending downwardly from the under surface ofthe top wall of said cap, said stem member being receivable in saiddispensing outlet of said insert plug member and extending into saidtubular outlet member for a substantial portion of the length of saidtubular outlet member whereby said insert plug member may bepreassembled with said closure cap prior to placement of said insertplug in said neck portion of said container, the diameter of said stemmember being so dimensioned relative to the internal diameter of saidtubular outlet member as to provide a primary sealing action when saidstem member is received in said tubular outlet member, said dispensingoutlet of said tubular outlet member being tapered to facilitatedispensing from said outlet and to facilitate insertion of said stemmember in said tubular outlet member, the dispensing outlet end of saidtubular outlet member terminating above the normally upper end of saidouter wall of said insert plug member and above the normally upper endof said neck member whereby when the internally threaded closure cap iscompletely engaged with the externally threaded neck member of saidcontainer the under surface of the top wall of said closure capcompressively engages the dispensing outlet end of said tubular outletmember to provide a secondary sealing action.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,346,007 7/1920DeAguiar 222-563 X 2,759,643 8/1956 Dahlin 222-521 3,010,619 11/1961Gronmeyer et a1. 222-521 3,124,281 3/1964 Stull 222-546 X 3,209,96310/1965 Krieps et a1. 222-546 X FOREIGN PATENTS 922,188 3/1963 GreatBritain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. WALTER SOBIN, Examiner.

